Visual-Primary Sound Integration

guiding principle for sound film editing that asserts the primacy of the visual image, even after the advent of synchronized sound. It rejects the initial trend of '100 percent talkies'—where sound merely duplicates or explains the visual—in favor of a more nuanced relationship where sound enhances realism, creates atmosphere, and guides emotion without overpowering the visual narrative. The image leads, and the sound deepens its meaning. This principle also extends to audio-audio integration, such as meticulously keyframing a music track to 'duck' under dialogue, ensuring the emotional intent of the score supports, rather than competes with, the clarity of the spoken word.